ICCON 2010 opens: Continuing education seen as key to culinary success

CEBU, Philippines – Determined to further hone the knowledge and skills of Cebu's food and beverage practitioners, Angelita Dy and Bernadette Jingco of Grandhope Ventures Ltd., yesterday spearheaded the second International Culinary Congress (ICCON) at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino with no less than industry experts from both local and international organizations.

ICCON, which will run until October 9, aims to impart the latest trends and practices in the food and beverage sector to prime movers as well as future practitioners in the industry. 

Keynote speaker Food and Beverage Managers' Association Singapore (FBMAS) president Cheong Hai Poh said Cebu is one of the most interesting provinces where culinary industry can be restructured to flourish. He stressed that education is the key to success, and that success is a journey not a destination.

He said the aim of FBMAS right now is to forge a global alliance with chefs association from other countries.    

Cheong said the organization is committed to work with their counterparts abroad to achieve objectives that include creating education hubs, consultancy, to develop a gateway of supply chain partners, to create human resource opportunities in Asia, cross exposure and to share notes on best practices and specialties.

FBMAS currently has a standing agreement with The Malaysian Food & Beverage Executives Association and Cambodia Restaurant Association. Right now, plans of expanding the agreement with other countries including Germany and the Philippines is already in the pipeline.

On the other hand, Cheong said the culinary industry in Asia is undergoing an interesting chain of concepts, from the old-fashioned coffee house in hotels, followed by all-day dining, three-meal rations, to deli, the trend now has become diverse leaning towards the up-scale fine dining concepts in high-end hotels and trendy concepts.

He however said that the new fine dining concept is more on giving the diner a different experience.      

Cheong further added that the emergence of trendy restaurants bring about Fusion Cuisine in the culinary sector.

Fusion Cuisine is a combination of culinary preparation of two or more nations to come up with an innovative blend of different dishes. This type of cuisine is common in metropolitan areas, wherein culture is diverse, much like Singapore's.

Cheong said that Fusion Cuisine is however trendy and just like trends in fashion, it will only last for a short while as compared to the authentic cuisine.

One important factor that Cheong Hai Poh shared on the latest trend of today's culinary industry is that "you must give what the customers want to eat and not what the chef or the managers want."

The other speakers of this year's ICCON are SHATEC Institutes Singapore Executive Chef Matthew Yim who will handle a short course on Hospitality Management and Catering, Pages Holdings, Inc. chairman and CEO Bunny Pages talks about Brand Marketing, Belcris Foods Executive Chef Dietmar Deitrich, who will speak about sausage making, Executive Chef Nelson Roque takes up Gourmet Food Presentation, chef and Food Stylist Eugene Raymundo will talk about Food Styling, Ms. Genie Arambulo with Chef Eugene, will discuss techniques on Food & Lighting Photography.

Tuan Haji Mahmud Mohd Nor from Dewan Usaha Wan Industry of Malaysia will talk about Halal Certification.

Student category competitions will also be conducted in partnership with the University of Cebu-HRM Events Management Class.

Meanwhile, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who graced the opening of the event, lauded the efforts of the organizers of ICCON stressing that the hosting of the Congress is of utmost importance to what Cebu has achieved.

Tracking back to when the first ICCON was held back in 2005, Garcia said that as the new Governor then, she has set out specific targets in order to make Cebu the premier province of the entire country and looking at what Cebu has achieved, she is proud that Cebu continues to be the number one province in the country today in terms of total assets.

"We have made unprecedented stride in terms of growth and development and that is why this congress is of utmost importance to what we have achieved, for as we continue to enjoy unprecedented growth, it necessarily takes with it that Cebu must level up to higher expectations and higher level of excellence particularly in the culinary industry, which is vital in the tourism industry that has made Cebu the top tourism destination in the country," Garcia said.

She further lauded the organizers for leveling up to the challenge of making Cerbu worthy to be called as the third top island destination in Asia. (FREEMAN)